Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government plans to assist in rehabilitating all religious buildings at risk of collapse, not only Islamic boarding schools, according to Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar.
“We are not only focusing on Al Khoziny or Islamic boarding schools, but also on all educational institutions, religious facilities, and houses of worship that are at risk. We will assist them all,” he said after chairing a ministerial meeting on Friday.
He explained that the building audit and rehabilitation will cover not only houses of worship but also social and educational service facilities, such as orphanages and schools.
This initiative is part of the government’s effort to ensure the safety and security of the public while studying or worshipping, Iskandar continued.
“The Minister of Public Works is currently conducting audits and providing assistance to Islamic boarding schools deemed at risk. This is a precautionary measure to ensure students’ comfort and safety, and to keep the learning process running smoothly,” he noted.
At present, the Ministry of Public Works is conducting physical audits on the buildings of 80 Islamic boarding schools categorized as the most vulnerable.
The government also plans to expand the number of schools audited to accelerate the mitigation process, the minister added.
In addition to the audit, Iskandar said he would instruct relevant ministries and institutions to improve licensing procedures and streamline the building construction process.
The prayer hall on the third floor of the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in Sidoarjo District, East Java, collapsed on September 29 while undergoing renovations.
Hundreds of students were performing congregational prayers at the time and were trapped under the rubble.
The incident killed 67 students, all of whom were identified by the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team of the East Java Police on October 15.
